Screen for threshing machines



1941- w. A. HOLTZMAN SCREEN FOR THRESHING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Nov. 21, 1958 a a y a X e%20ez2/07/ Aug. 19, 1941. w. A. HOLTZMANSCREEN FOR THRESHING MACHINES Filed Nov. 21,, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 2 II SAug. 19, 1941.

v w. A. HOLTZMAN SCREEN FOR THRESHING MACHINES- 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledNov. 21, 1938 pans.

' Patented .19, 194i William A. Holtzman, Peoria, 111., amino:- toHart-Carter Company, Peoria, 111., a corporation oi Delaware ApplicationNovember 21, 1938-, Serial No. 241,815

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in threshing machinery andparticularly to an improved structure of adjustable chail'er and sieveIt will be appreciated that operating conditions of combineharvester-threshers are quite diiierent from the conditions of thestandard stationary grain threshers. Where standard grain threshers areusually operated stationary on level ground, combine harvester-threshersare operated while being transported over rough uneven ground, sidehills, downhill and uphill. These conditions require certain variationsin the chaiier and seed pans, and it is to these improvements that myinvention is directed. However, it has been found that theseimprovements are also eiiective on stationary standard grain threshers.

The particular object of my invention is to provide more effectivestructure for adjustable chailer and seed pans.

'Another object is to provide an adjustable chafler and seed panstructure which is-efiective v on combine harvesters while operatingover rough hilly ground.

Another object is to provide an adjustable chafler and seed panstructure that would more eflectively utilize'the air blast from theblowertan.

And a still iurther object is to provide an adjustable chaiier and seedpan structure which would be adaptable by adjustment variations etc., toa wire variety of grain and to difierent types and kinds of harvesters.

Other objects and benefits will be discosed by the followingdescriptions and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a sidewise tilted isometric view of my improved chailerpan-showing my adjustable stepped wire finger extension and anadjustable air blast deflector;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the chafierpan and wire finger extensionshowing the slat adjustment mechanism;

, Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken isometric view of a pair of chaifer slatsto better show their relation to .each other;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the chafier pan side rail as itwould appear on the section lines ll of Fig. 1 to show the pivotalmounting of the slat wires;

Fig. 5 is. an enlarged sectional view of the chafler pan as it appearson the'section lines 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view oi the chafler pan and stepped wirefinger extension as they appear on the section line 6-6 oi Fig. 1; Fig."l is an enlarged sectionalview oi the chafler slats and adjustmentmechanism as they appear on section lines I--"l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional end view of the slat and adjustment mechanism onthe section line 8+8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sidewise tilted isometric view of my grain sieve pan; Fig.10 is an enlarged sectional view of the grain sieve pan on the sectionlines ilk-i0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional end elevation view oi my grain sieve as itappears on the section lines li-- ll of Fig. 9; and

' Fig. 12 is an enlarged broken view of a pair of sieve slats to bettershow their relation to one another.

It is assumed that the general structure oithresher apparatus andparticularly the grain shoe is well understood. However, in order thatthe application of my invention be properly revealed, I will describethe typical thresher cleaning shoe that my invention contemplates. Thegrain pan extends to the adjustable chaiier and its construction is suchthat it delivers grain, coarse material, short straws, unthreshed heads,bean pods, etc., back on to the adjustable chaffer which is beingoscillated backward and forward about one to one and one-half inches.The coarse material, etc., is carried back by this oscillating action towhere the blast from the fan delivers it to the rear, thus preventingoverloading. -The grain, beans, or other threshed crop drops through thechatter to the adjustable sieve ior final cleaning. threshed heads,pods, etc., are carried by the chaiier to the adjustable extension. Theadjustable extension is hinged and can be set at various angles to suitcrop conditions.

justable sieve, passes through the sieve and to the grain auger to bedelivered to the weigher,

The coarse material, un-

The unthreshed heads,

grain tank or sacker as the case may be. By properly regulating thesieve to suit the condition of crop, the chafl is blown out through theadjustable chafier and extension. Any unthreshed heads or coarsematerial which might have fallen onto the sieve is delivered to thetailings auger to be returned through the cylinder. By properlyregulating the adjustable sieve most crops, including many fine seedcrops, are thoroughly cleaned, ready for the market.

It will be appreciated that in the case of combines where the machine isbeing transported over rough ground that the slats must work underwidely variable conditions. The slats, which comprise the completesurface of the chafier and sieve, are made to form continuous channelsthrough which the grain passes directly over and through the meshes. Inorder to provide a structure which will cope with the variableconditions I have developed a design of slatwherein the formed fingersaround the mesh openings are unusually long, in fact almost as long asthe space between the adjusting wires. Further, these fingers overlapthe adjacent slat nearly 50% of the wire spacing and on the rear of eachslat I provide an angular baflle extension which has the effect ofbetter controlling the air blast to effect proper cleaning. The greaterthe opening of the slat required for the crop, the greater the volume ofair will be directed up through the slats for cleaning. The definite ribconstruction of my slats, in addition to forming channels for the grain,gives added strength and prevents the possibility of breaking or bendingout of shape. around the sieve opening is effective in forcing thematerial over the slat and preventing clogging. This is particularlyimportant in combines where on hillside operations baifles and sieveshave a strong tendency to clog under unfavorable conditions.

Now referring to Figs. 1 and 2, I designate the side rails of my chaiferpan by the numeral and the end rails by the numeral 2!. These rails areheld together as a-frame by the angle plates 22. Baiile ribs 23 and 24extend lengthwise of the frame dividing the frame for practical purposesinto three lengthwise pans. There may be more or less of theselengthwise b'aille ribs which are for the purpose of preventing threshedmaterials from sliding sidewise when the combine is on a side hill. Bythis means Further, the length of the fingers the chafler slats, thedegree of deflection, of course, being regulated by the amount thechaffer slats are tilted. The slats 26 are attached to the adjustmentwires 25 by means of loops 30 and are adjusted so that the sieveopenings are uniform throughout the area of the frame. After thisadjustment is made, they are fixed to the cross wires by any suitablemeans such as spot welding. The cross wires, as shown in Fig. 4, arepivotally mounted in the side rails 20 by means of journal bearing holes20'.

Now'referring to Fig. 5, it will be noted that a cross steel step member3| is fastened to the and rails 2! by nails 34. Two right angle steps 32and 33 are formed in the member 3|, thereby providing means for movingthe threshed materials forward when the chaifer pan is oscillatedbackward and forward. I have found that this a step member is quitenecessary because without such provision a dead space is formed at thecross rail which has a tendency to permit the threshed material to pileup, thereby decreasing the efficiency of the pan. Likewiseat theoppositeend of the pan, as shown in Fig. 6, is a cross member 35 havinga right angle step 36. Thismember is held in place by the hinges 31 andthe bolt 33. On the cross rail 39 ,of the practically the full area ofthe pan is utilized.

Now referring to Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, showing the details of thestructure, I designate by the numeral 26 the adjustment wires whichextend sidewise across the pan in equally spaced relation to each otherthe full length of the pan. Fastened to these wires are chaifer slatswhich I generally designate by the numeral 26. As best shown in Fig. 3,these chail'er slats have sieve or mesh openings 21 which .are disposedbetween rather long fingers which are formed in ridges central of thefingers. These ridges or ribs form continuous channels in the surface ofthe chaffer pan through which the grain passes through the sieveopenings 21 which are adjustable in size as the chafier slats are rockedon the adjustment wires 25 by means of the crank arms 25' as will laterbe more fully explained. On the opposite end of the chafier slats fromthe fingers 28 are formed angular blast baflies 29. In the case of thechafier slat these bailles extend downward rather abruptly and thusafford means for deflecting air blast from the fan directly betweenadjustable step wire finger extension is another step feeding member 40with an angular step M formed therein. This member is held on the rail39 by means of bolts 38' through the hinge 31. It will be apparent thatby means of these two step members 35 and 40 I have again provided meanswhereby the threshed material is propelled off of the chatter frame andonto the step wire finger extensions rather than to p rmit it to lodgedormant with the danger of clogging the chaffer frame.

The step wire finger extensions 42 are formed in loops, making a doublefinger, as best shown in Fig. 2. These loop fingers are held in slotsthrough the side of the channel member 39 and are spot welded securelyin place in the channel member 39. The multiple step sections 42 actingas successive step impellers will naturally catch and propel thethreshed material forward as the chail'er frame is oscillated backwardand forward. Because of this action I can set the angle of theadjustable wire extension somewhat abruptly without danger of clogging,because the multiple step impellers on the wire finger extensions movethe straw forward and do not permit it to fall back to cause clogging.Then by the blast baille, as best shown in Fig. l, I can force .the airblast through this material and more 55 on an angle member 53 fixed inthe thresher shoe.

Now referring to Figs. 7-and 8, a sliding ad-.

member 43 bolted directly to the end rail 2|.

A depressed notch 5| in the bell crank 48 engages the notches 50 in theratchet plate and thereby holds the bell crank in any desired position.It will thus be apparent that I have provided means whereby the chafferslats may be uniformly and quickly adjusted to any desired opening.Usually this is done from outside otally mounted in an exactly similarmanner as that described for my chaffer pan. However, in this case ofthe sieve pan I provide multiple bafile ribs 59, 60, BI, 62 and 63,extending lengthwise of the sieve pan and for all practical purposesdividing the general sieve pan into six nar row pans, extendinglengthwise. This is done for the'purpose of utilizing the'entire area ofthe pan when the thresher is being transported on a side hill. Thebaffie ribs 59 to 63 prevent the grain from sliding sidewise and thusthe area of the pan is more effectively utilized. i

As shown in Fig. 10, I again mount the stepped cross member 54 on theend rail 51. Two right angle steps 65 and B6 are formed in this memberand thus provide means whereby the grain and threshed material are.moved forward over the actly similar to, that, described for my chairs-rslats and will not'again be described.

I have previously described the general operation of my chatter andsieve pans and now with the above explanation of the detail structure,it is believed that the entire mechanism is-clearly understood. I

I claim: I 1. In a chaffer pan device for threshers, a frame, hingedadjusting wires extending cross wise of said frame, slat adjustingmechanism coacting with said cross wires, baffle slats attached pan arearather than to be permitted to stop onthe smooth upper surface of the'end rail 57.

Similarly on the opposite end of the sieve pan another step member 58 isattached having a single step '61. This is for the same purpose asdescribed for the steps 65 and 66.-

Now referring to Figs. 10 and 12, it will be noted that my sieve slatfiflis of considerably different form than the chaffer slat 26. asheretofore described. The sieve openings Ill are-very much smaller, thesieve fingers 69 extending beyond the opening Ill arevery much shorter,and the baflie extension 'Il projecting about half of the distancebetween the'cross wires depending downward at a very much smaller angle.Thefingers 69 are embossd in ridges which in effect form continuouschannels through which the grain is conducted to-the sieve openings 10.These'sieve pans are divided longitudinally by bafiie ribs 59, i0, 6 I,etc., which eflectively distribute the grain over the entire surfacearea of the sieve. The end of the cent cross wire and as the baflleextension is detending downwardly at a slight angle, it will readily beappreciated that a fine adjustment of finger stops approximately evenwith the adJa-' to said wires, each of said baffle slats being abruptlybent intermediate its side edges to form a fiat front finger section anda downwardly bent rear blast deflector section, said finger sectionhaving multiple longitudinal fingers formed cross ,wise of the slatsextending approximately half way across the front'of the finger section,each of said fingersand aligned portions of the finger sections beingformed in convex cross section, each of said fingers overlapping thealigned portion of the adjacent finger section by approximately half thelength of the finger.

2. In a chatter pan device for threshers, a frame, hinged adjustingwires extending cross wise of saidframe, slat adjusting mechanismcoacting with said cross wires, baflie slats attached to said wires,each of said bafile s'lats being abruptly bent intermediate its sideedges to form a fiat front finger section and an abrupt downwardly bentrear blast defiector section, said'finger section having multiplelongitudinal rounded end fingers formed cross wise of the slat extendingapproximately half way across the front of the finger section, each ofsaid fingers and aligned portions of the finger section being formed inconvex cross section, each of said fingers overlapping the alignedportion of the adjacent finger section by approximately half the lengthof the fingers, the arrangement providing longitudinal ridges in thechaffer pan with the sides and rounded ends of the fingers serving todirect grain between the fingers and through the openi'ngsat the base ofthe fingers.

3. In a chatter pan device for blast winnowing means, aframe, hingedadjusting wires extending cross wise of said frame, slat adjustingmechanism coacting with said cross the sieve opening may be attained bytilting the sieve slats. The baille extensions being at a lesser angle,the air blast deflected through the sieve openings is more gentle andthis also aids in perinitting a fine sieve opening adjustment.

As previously described, for the chafler slats 26 .the sieve slats 69amattached to the adjustment the like. 'I'his'slat adjusting'mechanism isex'- wires, baflie slats attached to said wires, a stepped wire fingerextension adjustably hinged on the discharge endof said frame, avertical blast baille positioned closely beneath the free ends of thefingers adjustable vertically to deflect air blasts from below theframeto a point considerably above the end of the frame, said adjustablestepped wire extensionbeing positioned to coact with the upward airblast deflected by the bafiie to permit abrupt upward angular setting ofthe extension thereby to lift and agitate the straw abruptly in avertical direction to provide .effective cleaning action withoutclogging the chaffer pan. WILLIAM A. HOLTZMAN.

threshers air

